Binder.



PATENTED AUG. 21, 1906.

P. A. CLEVELAND.

BINDER.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 7. 1905.

WITNESSES.

w W //v VENTOH BY ms ATTORNEY/2 PETER! co., wnsnmoruu, D. a

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BiNDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 21, 1906.

Application filed July 7,1905. Serial No. 268,663.

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, FREDERICK A. CLEvn- LAND, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Binders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device which may be applied to binders of the loose-leaf type, the object being to provide a device of simple construction which may be used in connection with covers or binders of this class, which may be easilyoperated, and which will be positive in its action. The use of binders of this description is well understood, and it is not thought necessary to enter into an explanation of their-operation further than to state the principal requirement, which is that any number of pa es or leaves may be inserted,

' replaced, or ta enout without disturbing the remaining leaves.

The object of my invention is to provide a device which shall meet this requirement and accomplish the desired result by the use of a simple locking mechanism which does not require separate keys or other devices to operate the same and which shall be self-contai-ned and operated by turning the bookon one side to lock thecovers in any desired position and to release the same by simply re versing the position of the book. To accomplish this result, I provide an upper and lower clamping-section, which may be attached to the covers of the binder. These clamping-sections are normally held apart by the 'actionof springs contained in telescoping members attached to said clamping-sections in "the usual manner. Attached to one of these clamping-sections, preferably the upper, 1 provide a post which carries a pawl or dog which is adapted to engage projections on the interior of a cooperating post or casing which is secured to the lower clamping-section. This latter post or casing is adapted to telescope over the post carrying the pawl or dog.

The outer post or casing is provided with projections on the interior surface thereof, which are adapted to engage the pawl or dog and prevent the separation of the members when the covers are in the position indicated in thedrawings. These projections are preferably in the form of'a spiral or thread in order to provide for an additional tightening of the covers by turning the inner post, carrying the pawl. In order to release the pawl from engagement with the projections on the inte rior of the casing, as just described, it is only necessary to reverse the position of the covers, when the pawl will fall out of engagement and allow the parts to be separated by the springs in the telescoping members 3, heretofore referred to, or by other suitable means. In order to accelerate the movement of the pawl, an auxiliary weight is provided which is attached to the same and operates to move the pawl into and out of engagement, according to the position of the covers, with the projection on the interior of the casing. The use of an auxiliary weight permits the use of a pawl having a very light construction and at the same time insures a positive and quick action of the same.

The construction and operation of the device will be more fully explained in connection with the drawings accompanying this specification.

Figure 1 is a perspective side elevation of a pair of clamping-sections or binder-frames with the covers and the leaves of the book omitted. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation in section of the post and easing carrying the locking mechanism. Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation of the post carrying the pawl and auxiliary weight.

In Fi 1 at 1 and 2 is shown an upper and lower cTamping-section, respectively, which may be attached by any suitable means to the covers of the binder. At 3 3 are shown telescoping members containing sprin s, which operate normally to separate t e clampingsections 1 and 2. At 4 is shown a post attached to the upper clamping-section 1 by any suitable means. An ordinary ila-t head-screw may be used for this purpose, said screw being secured tightly in said post in such a manner that the post may be rotated in the clamping-section 1 by using a screwdriver in the slot of the screw. This post 4 is preferably slotted at the lower end thereof and carries a pawl or dog with an auxiliary weight attached thereto in said slot. This pawl 5 is pivoted in the aforesaid slot-at6 and is provided with projections at the-outer end thereof which are adapted to cooperate with and to engage the projections on the interior of the casing 7, which are preferably spiral in form, as already described. The casing 7 maybe secured to the lower clamppivot and outer end thereof.

' may be made very small and light, thus tak ing up very little spaceand permittingof a very compact construction, which is especially desirable in devices of this class. The auxiliary weight is contained entirely within the post itself, and so requires no additional space, but at the same time all of the advantages of a heavier pawl are obtained and a quicker action insured on account of the fact that when the covers and clampingsec tions are reversed a very slight movement of the weight 8 will cause the outer end of the pawl 5 to move out of engagements with the casing 7 on account of the angular position of the pawl and the relative location of the pivotal points of the pawl and weight, as will be readily seen by referring to Fig. 2 of the drawings. The result of this construction is an accelerated motion of the pawl and a quicker operation of the locking mechanism both in releasing and in looking the members.

in position.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that all the moving parts are contained within the inner posts and that no spring or other actuating means are necessary to insure the positive operation of the locking mechanism, gravity alone being the actuating force.

In operation, assuming that the covers stand in the position shown in the drawings,

any desired number of leaves may be inserted between the clamping-sections and attached covers. The upper cover is now pressed down until the leaves are secured, clamped, or held between the clam ing members, which will be retained in t 's position by means of the pawl, as already described. A further tightening may be effected by turning the post 4 or pawl attached thereto, which now en ages the spiral projections on the interior of the casing 7. This may be done by using an ordinary screw-driver in the slot of the screw at the upper end of this post, or a knurled head may be provided on the post to turn the same by hand. It will be evident that various changes may be made in the details of construction of the devices shown to adapt it to its various uses without departing from the scope of my invention.

What I claim is 1. In a binder, the combination of a pair of clamping members, a post attached to one of said clamping members, a pawl or dog carried by said post and adapted to-engage the inner surface of a casing, a casing secured to the other of said clamping members adapted to telescope over said post, and a separate auxiliary weight attached to and cooperating with said pawl or dog to accelerate the action of the same, substantially as described.

2. In a binder, the combination of a pair of clamping members, a post having aslot at the lower end thereof attached to one of said clamping members, a pawl or dog carried by said post in said slot and adapted to engage the inner surface of a casing, a casing secured to the other of said clamping members adapted to telescope over said post, and a separate auxiliary weight attached to and cooperating with said pawl or dog to accelerate the action of the same, substantially as described.

3. In a binder, the combination of a pair of clamping members, a post attached to one of said clamping members, a pawl or dog carried by and pivoted to said post and adapted to engage the inner surface of a casing, a cas-,

ing secured to theother of said clamping members adapted to telescope over said post,

1 and a separate auxiliary weight attached to and cooperating with said pawl or dog to accelerate the action of the same, substantially as described.

4. In a binder, the combination of a pair of said clamping members, a pawl or dog carried by said post and adapted to engage the inner surface of a casing, a casing having a serrated inner surface secured to the other of said clamping members and adapted to telescope over said post, and a separate auxiliary weight attached to and cooperating with said pawl or dog .to accelerate the action of the same, substantially as described.

5. In a binder, the combination ofa pair of clamping members, a post attached to one of said clamping members, a pawl or dog carried by said post and adapted to engage the inner surface of a casing, a casin having a threaded inner surface secured to the other of said clamping members and adapted to telescope over said post, means for rotating said post in said casing, and an auxiliary weight attached to and cooperating with said pawl or dog to accelerate the action of the same, substantially as described.

6. In a binder, the combination of a pair of clamping members, a post having a slot at the lower end thereof attached to one of said clamping members, a pawl or dog carried by said post and adapted to engage the inner surface of a casing, a casing secured to the other of said clamping members adapted to telescope over a post, and an auxiliary weight located in said slot in said post attached to and cooperating with said pawl or dog to accelerate the action of the same, substantially as described.

7. In a binder, the combination of a pair of clamping members, a post attached to one of clamping members, a post having a slot at the lower end thereof attached to one of said clamping members, a pawl or dog pivoted at one end thereof in said slot and having the other end thereof adapted to engage the inner surface of a casing, a casing secured to the other of said clamping members having a serrated inner surface and adapted to telescope over said post, and an auxiliary weight located in said slot and pivotally attached to said pawl intermediary of the pivot and outer end thereof and adapted to cooperate with said pawl to accelerate the action of the same, substantially as described.

8. In a binder, the combination of a pair of clamping members, a post having a slot at the lower end thereof attached to one of said clamping members, a pawl or dog pivoted at one end thereof in said slot and having the other end thereof adapted to engage the inner surface of a casing, a casing secured to the other of said clamping members having a threaded inner surface adapted to telescope over said post, and an auxiliary weight located in said slot and pivotally attached to said pawl intermediary of the pivot and outer end thereof and adapted to cooperate with said pawl to accelerate the action of the same, substantially as described.

9. In a binder, the combination of a pair of clamping members, a post attached to one of said clamping members, a pawl or dog pivotally attached to said post and adapted to engage the inner surface of a casing, a casing secured to the other of said clamping mem bers and adapted to telescope over said post, and a separate auxiliary weight attached to and cooperating with said pawl or dog in such a manner that a small movement of said weight causes a relatively large movement of the end of said pawl engaging said casing, substantially as described.

10. In a binder, the combination of a pair of clamping members, a post attached to one of said clamping members, a pawl or dog carried by said post having a portion thereof serrated and adapted to engage the inner surface of a casing, a casing secured to the other of said clamping members adapted to telescope over said post, and a separate auxiliary weight attached to and cooperating with said pawl or dog to accelerate the action of the same.

11. In a binder, the combination of a pair of clamping members, a post attached to one of said clamping members, a pawl or dog pivotally attached to said post and having a portion thereof serrated and adapted to engage the inner surface of a casing, a casing secured to the other of said clamping members adapted to telescope over said post, and a separate auxiliary weight attached to and cooperating with said pawl or dog to accelerate the action of the same.

12. In a binder, the combination of a pair of clamping members, a post attached to one of said clamping members, a pawl or dog pivotally attached to said post having the outer end thereof serrated and adapted to engage the inner surface of a casing, a casing secured to the other of said clamping members adapted to telescope over said post and a separate auxiliary weight attached to and cooperating with said pawl or dog to accelerate the action of the same.

13. In a binder-lock, in combination, a pair of telescoping members, a pawl or dog carried by one of said members and adapted to engage the other of said members, and a separate auxiliary weight attached to and cooperating with said pawl or dog to accelerate the action of the same.

14. In a binder-lock, in combination, a pair of telescoping members, an oscillatory pawl or dog carried by one of said members, and adapted to engage the other of said members, and a separate auxiliary weight attached to and cooperating with said pawl or dog to accelerate the action of the same.

15. In a binder-lock, in combination, a pair of telescoping members, an oscillatory pawl or dog pivotally attached to one of said members, and adapted to engage the other of said members, and a separate auxiliary weight attached to and cooperating with said pawl or dog to accelerate the action of the same.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 3d day of June, A. D. 1905.

- FREDERICK A. CLEVELAND.

Witnesses:

H. B. Coox, A. M. MALLIN. 

